TOPIC:

Hi,
I’m new to the site and I’m setting up my boat for trolling this spring. It’s been awhile since I fished the big lake so I’m looking for recommendations on gear to get started. I’m looking for rods, reels, planer boards, lures, landing net, techniques, etc to get started this spring for Coho. I’m looking for economical gear that’s not going to break the bank.
I have a 17’ Crestliner Super Hawk, Helix 9 w/ Lakemaster+ Great Lakes card, 2- vintage but very useable Big Jon manual long arm DR mounted on Cisco tracks, 4- Bert’s rod holders as well as the 2 rod holders on the downriggers. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

I would say reels are more important than rods. Okuma makes a decent reel at a good price. I would consider looking at the okuma CV30D. It will suite many applications and will hold up to big kings no problem if you get into them. As far as rods go, everyone has an opinion or preference. I use Diawa wilderness rods for planer boards and braid dipsies - mostly because I started with them and kept things consistent. They are about $20 ea. and have held up really darn good for me. Okuma makes decent rods as well. My rigger rods are ugly stik downrigger rods.

For tackle - you need nothing more than crankbaits and perhaps some red dodgers and peanut flies. For cranks, Thin fins / thin fish are popular.

As far as a landing net goes, anything will work, but with the trebles on the crankbaits, its sure nice to have a smaller rubber net. I have nothing to link to at the moment, but I am sure someone else can chime in to help. If a big king hits though, your going to need a good size net or else its going to be tough to get that fish in the boat.

Generally speaking in the spring you are going to be trolling at 2.4 - 2.8 MPH over 15-40 feet of water. Your baits should usually be in the top 15 foot of the water column, and often times the top 10 feet. Just depends.

Maybe someone here has some used equipment to get you going to help offset that initial cost with getting started.

Thanks for your response. How about planer boards?

You should check out Russell's Fishing Tech on YouTube. He's been going over a lot of good stuff for getting rigged up.

www.youtube.com/channel/UCmjpIynTo1X98iEOaMBuVfw

Bstar wrote:

Thanks for your response. How about planer boards?

Alot of guys use church walleye boards. They can kind of do everything from early coho to mid year stealhead or even offshore.

Also if you want to learn alot - maybe you could join someone who needs a crew member for a tournament. The Coho Cabin Fever Tournament will be April 10th this year (a week later than typical due to Easter). There are usually 40-50 boats and often a few guys that are looking for an extra crew member. Potentially a great way to see what other guys are doing. Even at the weigh in, the ability to talk to guys and learn is invaluable when new (or new again) to the lake.

scoffer wrote:

You should check out Russell's Fishing Tech on YouTube. He's been going over a lot of good stuff for getting rigged up.

www.youtube.com/channel/UCmjpIynTo1X98iEOaMBuVfw

Thanks! I’ll check it out

Dirty wrote:

Bstar wrote:

Thanks for your response. How about planer boards?

Alot of guys use church walleye boards. They can kind of do everything from early coho to mid year stealhead or even offshore.

Thanks, there’s so many out there I wouldn’t know where to start.

Dirty wrote:

Also if you want to learn alot - maybe you could join someone who needs a crew member for a tournament. The Coho Cabin Fever Tournament will be April 10th this year (a week later than typical due to Easter). There are usually 40-50 boats and often a few guys that are looking for an extra crew member. Potentially a great way to see what other guys are doing. Even at the weigh in, the ability to talk to guys and learn is invaluable when new (or new again) to the lake.

That sounds great. If you know anybody looking for someone let me know.

Try to be a observer at the classic I did that at the 2019 classic learned alot. Just brought a boat myself 17 foot alum craft late last spring I have two manual cannon DR and four rod holders caught a few steelhead and browns last year can't wait till spring